BULLY TACTICS: IT was with sadness and concern that I witnessed the behaviour of a number of campaigners who attended a protest, and meetings at the town hall this week.

The campaigners claim to be voicing the concerns of people who are opposed to Darlington Council's proposals to close Eastbourne and Hurworth Schools and build a new £25m academy.

We believe these proposals will bring benefits for generations of Darlington pupils, but I accept that some people will disagree and they are fully entitled to do so.

However, I do not believe that people are entitled to stop members of the public getting into or out of the Town Hall, nor to bully and intimidate or publish personal attacks on websites.

It is unacceptable that anyone, including council officers, should have to endure bullying, intimidation or abuse.

The process of bidding for an academy has only just begun. As that process unfolds, it will include full and comprehensive consultation where everyone will have the opportunity to have their say and I can guarantee that those views will be listened to.

I appeal to the dissenters who are using intimidation as a tactic to try to influence the debate to pay us the courtesy of allowing us to have our say too.

Ada Burns, Chief Executive, Darlington Borough Council

SHARING SCHOOLS

HOW ironic it is that the group campaigning to "save" Hurworth School should call itself Share when it has no intention of sharing anything.

It should be called "Let's Not Share".

Let's not share the teachers at Hurworth School with any other children in Darlington.

Let's not share the opportunities that a brand new school will bring for future generations of children.

Let's not share the belief that every child that goes to school in Darlington is entitled to have the same chance of a good education.

Please think about the good that sharing what you have with others will bring. - Mandy Scott, Darlington.

HEART OF THE MATTER

IN any week I visit Eastbourne School at least three or four times for meetings and discussions. I take the opportunity to observe lesson change over and break times.

Do I recognise the picture of Eastbourne School which appeared in The Northern Echo (Oct 14), no I don't. The situation at Eastbourne School has improved and changed for the better and the residents of Darlington need to know this. This is not to deny that there have been difficulties, we would be the first to say that it has been tough.

These issues have been dealt with and we are now moving forward. We have had just as many meetings and discussions as our opposite numbers at Hurworth School, concerning the proposals and in many instances we "share" the same concerns.

The move to express an interest in the academy has raised additional concerns such as who will be the sponsor and what will be their educational philosophy, the admissions criteria, staff retention and community involvement.

However, we do acknowledge the many positives this will bring such as additional funding, a brand new building ahead of time that fits our educational aspirations and access to all the new technology which enhances good teaching.

It is acknowledged that the current buildings of both schools are not suitable for the 21st Century and the funding brought through the Federation and spent on both buildings has only further emphasised the need for a complete new build.

I have visited Hurworth School on a number of occasions and in some instances its facilities are poorer than those at Eastbourne School, especially the size of its classrooms.

As SHARE make a lot of hullabaloo, we prefer to get on with the business, which is educating our pupils. We now have embedded many of the systems which have led to the success of Hurworth School.

Under the leadership of Mr Farrar, and through the hard work of our teachers, we look forward to further improvement and success.

Pupils from both schools are already involved in sharing activities, "share" as in equally experiencing and participating to equal benefit. I was always taught that to "share" was good for all.

We at Eastbourne School have our own acronym, HEART, which stands for Hurworth and Eastbourne Achieving Results Together.

We are just as anxious to ensure that the educational needs of our children are at the "HEART" of any proposals.

Councillor V Copeland, Chairwoman of Eastbourne Governing Body.